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Abstract:

An interactive video game console includes a machine base, a control
unit, a controller, and an image sensor. A display is provided on the
machine base. The controller has a case, two light emitting devices on
the case to emit predetermined light, and a motion sensor. The motion
sensor is electrically connected to the control unit to sense a motion of
the case and transmit it to the control unit. The image sensor senses
images of the light emitting devices. The control unit controls the
display to show a game image thereon, and a location of the game image on
the display is determined by signals from the image sensor, a movement of
the game image is determined by signals from the motion sensor.

Claims:

1. An interactive video game console, comprising: a machine base; a
display provided on the machine base; a control unit provided in the
machine base and electrically connected to the display; a controller
having a case, at least two light emitting devices on the case to emit
predetermined light, and at least a motion sensor, wherein a distance is
kept between the light emitting devices, the motion sensor is
electrically connected to the control unit to sense a motion of the case
and transmit it to the control unit; and an image sensor electrically
connected to the control unit to sense images of the light emitting
devices; wherein the control unit controls the display to show a game
image thereon; a location of the game image on the display is determined
by signals from the image sensor, and a movement of the game image is
determined by signals from the motion sensor.

2. The interactive video game console as defined in claim 1, wherein the
light emitting devices are on a side of the case facing the machine base.

3. The interactive video game console as defined in claim 1, wherein the
controller further includes a vibrator in the case and electrically
connected to the control unit to be controlled by the control unit to
vibrate the case.

4. The interactive video game console as defined in claim 1, wherein the
motion sensor includes at least one of a G-sensor, a gyro, and an
E-compass.

5. The interactive video game console as defined in claim 1, wherein the
light emitting devices are infrared rays light-emitting diodes to emit
infrared rays, and the image sensor has an infrared rays filter.

6. The interactive video game console as defined in claim 1, wherein the
image sensor is a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor or a charge
coupled device.

7. The interactive video game console as defined in claim 1, wherein the
control unit controls the display to show a message when the image sensor
does not sense the light emitting devices.

8. The interactive video game console as defined in claim 1, further
comprising an alarm device electrically connected to the control unit to
generate an alarm when the image sensor does not sense the light emitting
devices.

9. The interactive video game console as defined in claim 1, wherein
vertical and transverse locations of the light emitting devices in the
images sensed by the image sensor are calculated by the control unit to
obtain the location of the game image on the display.

10. The interactive video game console as defined in claim 9, wherein a
distance between the light emitting devices in images sensed by the image
sensor is calculated by the control unit to obtain a size of the game
image shown on the display.

11. The interactive video game console as defined in claim 1, wherein the
light emitting devices emit flashlight with a predetermined frequency.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a video game, and more
particularly to an interactive video game console.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In recent days, more and more people think that entertainment is an
important issue in leisure time. Entertainment may release pressure in
work days and enhance the interpersonal relationship. As the improvement
of video game industry, all kinds of video games, such as console game,
network game and others, are popular to all ages. However, teenagers like
arcade games most.

[0005] Typically, the arcade games in the present market are operated by
joystick or buttons. The players do not feel reality in the game when
he/she plays the game through joystick and/or buttons so that the player
will feel boring after plays such games for a time. Therefore, such
arcade game will be replaced by a new game in a short period.

[0006] An improved arcade game which simulates playing instrument, such as
playing guitar or drum, in the game is provided to provide player a new
experience. However, such game is nothing but asking the player to keep
on the changing beats by beating the drum or plucking the strings. It is
not a real interactive game. Therefore, there still are some places to be
improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an
interactive video game console, which provides the player more reality
when he/she is playing the game.

[0008] According to the objective of the present invention, an interactive
video game console includes a machine base; a display provided on the
machine base; a control unit provided in the machine base and
electrically connected to the display; a controller having a case, at
least two light emitting devices on the case to emit predetermined light,
and at least a motion sensor; and an image sensor electrically connected
to the control unit to sense images of the light emitting devices; A
distance is kept between the light emitting devices. The motion sensor is
electrically connected to the control unit to sense a motion of the case
and transmit it to the control unit. The control unit controls the
display to show a game image thereon; a location of the game image on the
display is determined by signals from the image sensor, and a movement of
the game image is determined by signals from the motion sensor.

[0009] In an embodiment, the light emitting devices are on a side of the
case facing the machine base.

[0010] In an embodiment, the controller further includes a vibrator in the
case and electrically connected to the control unit to be controlled by
the control unit to vibrate the case.

[0011] In an embodiment, the motion sensor includes at least one of a
G-sensor, a gyro, and an E-compass.

[0012] In an embodiment, the light emitting devices are infrared rays
light-emitting diodes to emit infrared rays, and the image sensor has an
infrared rays filter.

[0013] In an embodiment, the image sensor is a complementary metal-oxide
semiconductor or a charge coupled device.

[0014] In an embodiment, the control unit controls the display to show a
message when the image sensor does not sense the light emitting devices.

[0015] In an embodiment, the interactive video game console further
includes an alarm device electrically connected to the control unit to
generate an alarm when the image sensor does not sense the light emitting
devices.

[0016] In an embodiment, vertical and transverse locations of the light
emitting devices in the images sensed by the image sensor are calculated
by the control unit to obtain the location of the game image on the
display.

[0017] In an embodiment, a distance between the light emitting devices in
images sensed by the image sensor is calculated by the control unit to
obtain a size of the game image shown on the display.

[0018] In an embodiment, the light emitting devices emit flashlight with a
predetermined frequency.

[0019] The player will feel that he/she really controls the game image by
operating the controller when he/she is playing the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the
present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the controller of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a sketch diagram, showing the game image moving according
to the controller;

[0023] FIG. 4 shows the controller equipped with the vibrator; and

[0024] FIG. 5 shows the game console equipped with the alarm device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, an interactive video game console 1 of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a machine base 10,
a display 12, a control unit 20, a controller 30, and an image sensor 40.

[0026] The display 12 is mounted on the machine base 10 to show images of
the game.

[0027] The control unit 20 is provided in the machine base 10 and is
electrically connected to the display 12. A game program is stored in the
control unit 20.

[0028] The controller 30 is connected to the machine base 10 through a
cable 50, and is electrically connected to the control unit 20. As shown
in FIG. 2, the controller 30 has a case 32, two light emitting devices
34, and a motion sensor 36.

[0029] The light emitting devices 34 are mounted on the case 32 at a side
facing the machine base 10. A constant distance is provided between the
light emitting devices 34. In the present embodiment, the light emitting
devices 34 are infrared rays light-emitting diodes, and they may be
replaced by any kind of suitable light emitting device, of course.

[0030] The motion sensor 36 is mounted in the case 32 and is electrically
connected to the control unit 20 through the cable 50. The motion sensor
36 senses a motion of the case 32, generates according signals, and
transmits it to the control unit 20. In the present embodiment, the
motion sensor 36 includes a G-sensor 361, a gyro 362, and an E-compass
363. The G-sensor 361 senses an acceleration of the case 32, the gyro 362
senses an angle of inclination and an angular velocity of the case 32,
and the E-compass 363 senses an orientation of the case 32.

[0031] The image sensor 40 is provided on the case 32 and is electrically
connected to the control unit 20. The image sensor 40 catches image of
the light emitting devices 34, and transmits it to the control unit 20.
In the present embodiment, the image sensor 40 may be a complementary
metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), a charge coupled device (CCD), or other
equivalent devices. The image sensor 40 is provided with an infrared rays
filter (IR filter) 42 to enhance the images of the light emitting devices
34.

[0032] The control unit 20 calculates the locations of the light emitting
devices 34 through the images from the image sensor 40 to obtain a
location of the controller 30 in three-dimension through vertical and
transverse positions of the light emitting devices 34 and a distance
between the light emitting devices 34 in the images sensed by the image
sensor 40, and then shows a predetermined game image on the display 12
accordingly. The vertical and transverse positions of the light emitting
devices 34 determine the location of the game image on the display, and
the distance between the light emitting devices 34 indexes a distance
between the controller 30 and the machine base 10 which determines a
modified location and a size of the game image on the display 12.
Therefore, it may create a 3-D scene on the display 12. The game image
will move according to the signals from the motion sensor 36.

[0033] The light emitting devices 34 flash in a setting frequency which
may help the control unit 20 to precisely identify of the case 32 in the
images sensed by the image sensor 40. Any light in the images with a
frequency other than the setting frequency will be taken as noises and
will be filtered out. This may provide a precise detection.

[0034] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the game image shown on the
display 12 has a shape identical to the controller 30. Any movement of
the controller 30 the display will show the game image moving
accordingly. It makes the player feel like he/she really controls the
game image on the display 12 when he/she is playing a game by operating
the controller 30.

[0035] Besides, as shown in FIG. 4, the controller 30 may be provided with
a vibrator 38 in the case 32. The vibrator 38 is electrically connected
to the control unit 20 through the cable 50. The vibrator 38 may vibrate
the case 32 when the game image on the display 12 is hit or something
like that in the game. This will make the player feel like he/she was hit
as same as the game image. The activation of the vibrator 38 is
determined by the control unit 20, and the strength of vibration and time
of duration are determined by the control unit 20 also.

[0036] Sometime the player will leave the range of the controller 30 being
sensed when he/she is playing the game. The control unit 20 will show a
message on the display 12, such as "You are out of range" when the image
sensor 40 does not sense the light emitting devices 34 for a time to call
the player to move back. FIG. 5 shows an alarm device 50 on the machine
base 10. The alarm device 50 is electrically connected to the control
unit 20, and it will provide an alarm, such as flashlight or beep, to
warn the player that he/she was out of the playing range when the image
sensor 40 does not sense the light emitting devices 34 for a time.

[0037] The motion sensor 36 of the present invention includes the G-sensor
361, the gyro 362, and the E-compass 363. In practice, the motion sensor
36 may only has one or two of above sensing elements, or further includes
other sensors.

[0038] The description above is a few preferred embodiments of the present
invention and the equivalence of the present invention is still in the
scope of claim construction of the present invention.